The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Read Online Free PDF Page B

I have said, make answer to us both.
    Lo, in this right hand, whose protection
    Is most divinely vow'd upon the right
    Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet,
    Son to the elder brother of this man,
    And king o'er him and all that he enjoys;
    For this down-trodden equity we tread
    In warlike march these greens before your town,
    Being no further enemy to you
    Than the constraint of hospitable zeal
    In the relief of this oppressed child
    Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
    To pay that duty which you truly owe
    To him that owes it, namely, this young prince;
    And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
    Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up;
    Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent
    Against th' invulnerable clouds of heaven;
    And with a blessed and unvex'd retire,
    With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruis'd,
    We will bear home that lusty blood again
    Which here we came to spout against your town,
    And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace.
    But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer,
    'Tis not the roundure of your old-fac'd walls
    Can hide you from our messengers of war,
    Though all these English and their discipline
    Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.
    Then tell us, shall your city call us lord
    In that behalf which we have challeng'd it;
    Or shall we give the signal to our rage,
    And stalk in blood to our possession?
     
    When I have spoken then answer us both.
    See, on my right hand, that right hand which is
    solemnly devoted to protecting the rights of the one
    next to him, stands the young Plantagenet,
    the son of the elder brother of this man,
    king over him and everything he has:
    it's because of his stolen rights that we
    have marched here with our army onto the fields in front of your town,
    we have no other quarrel with you
    apart from what we are obliged to do
    by God to help this
    oppressed child. So you should be happy
    to do true service to the one who deserves it,
    namely this young Prince:
    and then our artillery will be like
    a muzzled bear, apart from its looks;
    the anger of our cannons will harmlessly
    be blown into the invulnerable sky;
    and with a blessed and unmolested retreat,
    with our swords unnotched and our helmets undamaged,
    we will take home our lusty blood,
    which we were going to spend attacking this town,
    and leave your children, your wives and you in peace.
    But if you foolishly reject this offer we are making,
    these round ancient stones will not
    protect you against our attacks,
    even if all these English with their military skills
    were sheltering inside them.
    So tell us, will your city acknowledge me as lord,
    on behalf of the person for whom I demand it?
    Or shall I let my rage run free
    and take what's mine by spilling blood?
     
    CITIZEN.
    In brief: we are the King of England's subjects;
    For him, and in his right, we hold this town.
     
    Briefly: we are subjects of the King of England;
    we hold this town for him, in his name.
     
    KING JOHN.
    Acknowledge then the King, and let me in.
     
    Then acknowledge the King, and let me in.
     
    CITIZEN.
    That can we not; but he that proves the King,
    To him will we prove loyal. Till that time
    Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world.
     
    We can't do that; we will only be loyal
    to someone who proves himself as a king. Until that time
    we are not letting anyone in.
     
    KING JOHN.
    Doth not the crown of England prove the King?
    And if not that, I bring you witnesses:
    Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed-
     
    Doesn't the Crown of England make me the King?
    And if it doesn't, I bring you witnesses:
    thirty thousand hearts bred by England–
     
    BASTARD.
    Bastards and else.
     
    Bastards and others.
     
    KING JOHN.
    To verify our title with their lives.
     
    To confirm our rights with their lives.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    As many and as well-born bloods as those-
     
    There are as many here, and just as well born–
     
    BASTARD.
    Some bastards too.
     
    And some bastards as well.
     
    KING